The President's Daily Brief PDB Situation Report | December 13th, 2025: Inside Japan’s Biggest Military Shift Since World War Two & Iran’s Student Uprising
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Dec 13, 2025 Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery analyzes Japan’s historic military buildup, highlighting missile expansions and an F-35 base near Taiwan amid rising tensions with China. He connects Taiwan's defense directly to Japan's security and the U.S. response dynamics. Meanwhile, Iranian-American scholar Ramesh Sepehrrad sheds light on the bold student-led protests in Iran, emphasizing the risks these youths face as they challenge regime legitimacy and fight for political freedom amidst escalating socioeconomic crises.
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Japan's Strategic Southern Buildup
- Japan is executing its largest postwar military buildup across the Ryukyu chain with missiles, radars, and an F-35 base.
- The move reshapes regional deterrence by placing persistent capabilities much closer to Taiwan and China.
Taiwan Seen As Japan's Canary
- Mark Montgomery argues Japan sees a Chinese seizure of Taiwan as an existential threat to its security.
- Japan views Taiwan's fate as a canary for whether China would next coerce Japan or Korea.
Preserve Credible Deterrence
- Maintain credible military power so coercion of Taiwan remains costly, as the U.S. national strategy claims.
- Clarify political signaling to reduce dangerous ambiguity about U.S. responses.